The best gaming laptops do far more than run your favorite PC games in a more portable form factor, they do so with high quality displays, a slick selection of ports, comfortable and satisfying keyboards, and thermal controls that prevent throttling. It's easy to get sidetracked by the glitz of the most expensive models, though, which is why value for money is one of the biggest factors that should go into your decision. I've used $800 / £800 machines that offer far better value than $2,000 / £2,000 rigs and I've used mid-range options that take you much further than only slightly cheaper models.
The best gaming laptop I've tested so far is, overall, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9. The 2024 model was seriously impressive in its performance and design, offering some fantastic benchmark results while still maintaining a slick and subtle form factor.
You'll find all my favorites below, with each rig having passed a series of in-game and dedicated stress-test benchmark processes. I've also lived, worked, and played with all of these machines for a minimum of two weeks each (and more when I can swing it that way). That means you know each one has been not only play-tested but life-tested along the way. You can check out exactly how we test gaming laptops in our dedicated guide. You're also shopping at the right time - Prime Day gaming laptop deals are working hard to keep those prices particularly low right now.
